Pressure driven microfluidic injection for chemical separations

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems and devices that allow independently applied pressures to a BGE reservoir and a sample reservoir for pressure-driven injection that can inject a discrete sample plug into a separation channel that does not require voltage applied to the sample reservoir and can allow for in-channel focusing methods to be used. The methods, systems and devices are particularly suitable for use with a mass spectrometer.

STATEMENT OF FEDERAL SUPPORT

This invention was made with government support under Grant No. GM066018awarded by the National Institutes of Health and Grant No.W911NF-12-1-0539 awarded by the United States Army. The United Statesgovernment has certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to microfluidic sample processing that may beparticularly suitable for electrospray ionization and/or sampleprocessing systems that interface with mass spectrometers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrospray ionization (“ESI”) is an important technique for theanalysis of biological materials contained in solution by massspectrometry. See, e.g., Cole, R. B. Electrospray Ionization MassSpectrometry: Fundamentals, Instrumentation & Applications; John Wileyand Sons, Inc.: New York, 1997. Electrospray ionization was developed inthe late 1980s and was popularized by the work of Fenn. See, e.g., FennJ B, Mann M, Meng C K, Wong S F & Whitehouse C M (1989), Electrosprayionization for mass-spectrometry of large biomolecules, Science 246,64-71. Simplistically, electrospray ionization involves the use ofelectric fields to disperse a sample solution into charged droplets.Through subsequent evaporation of the droplets, analyte ions containedin the droplet are either field emitted from the droplet surface or theions are desolvated resulting in gas phase analyte ions. The source ofthe liquid exposed to the electric field and to be dispersed is ideallyone of small areal extent as the size of the electrospray emitterdirectly influences the size of droplets produced. Smaller dropletsdesolvate more rapidly and have fewer molecules present per dropletleading to greater ionization efficiencies. These ions can becharacterized by a mass analyzer to determine the mass-to-charge ratio.Further analyte structural information can be obtained by employingtandem mass spectrometry techniques.

Separation of analytes prior to electrospray ionization is important forminimizing ionization suppression and MS spectral complexity.Microfluidic capillary electrophoresis with integrated electrosprayionization has been demonstrated as a fast and efficient method ofcoupling a liquid phase chemical separation with mass spectroscopydetection. See, e.g., Anal. Chem. 2008, 50, 6881-6887; and Anal. Chem.2015, 87, 2264-2272. Conventional microfluidic methods that employelectrokinetic flow of sample into the separation channel are subject toinjection bias and cannot effectively be used for some on-device samplefocusing methods. Further, the injection of a well-defined band ofsample into the separation channel of the microfluidic device can beimportant to achieving an efficient separation.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide simple, pressure-driven injectionmethods that can independently be applied to a plurality of differentfluid reservoirs. Precise volumes of sample can be delivered into theseparation without injection bias.

In some embodiments, the pressure-driven injection methods can also beused with on-device sample focusing methods such as transientisotachophoresis.

The pressure-driven injection method has advantages over othermicrofluidic injection methods in that it can use a simple channelgeometry, but it is capable of generating any desired sample plug sizeby simply adjusting the injection time and/or pressure. These methodsare free of electrokinetic injection bias and no voltage is required tobe applied to the sample reservoir. The methods are suitable forperforming online sample concentration methods such as transientisotachophoresis (tITP), because sample plugs with significantlydifferent properties (electrical conductivity, pH, and/or viscosity)compared to the background electrolyte can be injected to equal extents.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of sampleprocessing. The methods include: (a) providing a microfluidic devicewith at least one separation channel in fluid communication with abackground electrolyte (BGE) reservoir and a sample reservoir having asample channel that merges into the separation channel; (b) injecting afluid sample from the sample reservoir into the separation channeldownstream of the BGE reservoir by concurrently applying a definedpressure to the BGE reservoir and a defined pressure to the samplereservoir; (c) then clearing a trailing end of the sample from thesample channel and flowing fluid from the BGE reservoir to deliver aplug of the sample in the separation channel in response to reducing orremoving the pressure applied to the sample reservoir while applyingpressure to the BGE reservoir so that pressure applied to the BGEreservoir is greater than pressure then applied to the sample reservoir;and then (d) electrophoretically separating the delivered sample in theseparation channel by-applying voltage to the BGE reservoir and adownstream location of the separation channel.

The injecting, clearing and electrophoretic separation can be carriedout without applying a voltage to the sample reservoir.

The electrophoretic separation can be carried out by further reducing orremoving pressure applied to the BGE reservoir while applying thevoltage.

The method can also include electronically adjusting a duration of thepressure or increasing or decreasing the pressure applied to the samplereservoir and/or BGE reservoir for the injecting and/or clearing toadjust a size of the plug of the sample delivered to the separationchannel.

The electrophoretic separation can be carried out by removing pressureapplied to the BGE reservoir while applying the voltage to the BGEreservoir.

The method can include electronically adjusting a duration of thepressure applied to the sample reservoir and/or BGE reservoir for theinjecting step.

The method can include controlling a duration and magnitude of thepressure applied to the BGE reservoir to adjust a size of the plug ofthe sample delivered to the separation channel.

The clearing the trailing end of the sample to deliver the plug of thesample into the separation channel can be carried out by removing thepressure applied to the sample reservoir while applying the pressure tothe BGE reservoir.

The method can include discharging the electrophoretically separatedsample from the microfluidic device via at least one emitter on themicrofluidic device toward at least one of a collection device forsubsequent analysis or an entrance of a mass spectrometer.

The method can further include electrospray emitting theelectrophoretically separated sample from the microfluidic device via atleast one ESI emitter on the microfluidic device to spray toward acollection device for subsequent analysis and/or toward an entrance of amass spectrometer.

The microfluidic device can include at least one electro-osmotic (EO)pump onboard the microfluidic device for driving the discharging (e.g.,electrospray emitting).

The pressures applied to the BGE reservoir and the sample reservoirduring the injecting step can be between 0.1 and 30 psi.

The pressure applied to the sample reservoir during the injecting stepcan be between 1 and 10 psi. The reducing or removing the pressureapplied to the sample reservoir during the clearing step can be carriedout by venting the pressurized gas in the sample reservoir headspace gas(typically to atmosphere, but other venting arrangements may be used).

The pressure applied to the BGE reservoir and the pressure applied tothe sample reservoir during the injecting step can be between 2 and 10psi. No pressure can be applied to the sample reservoir during theclearing step and the pressure applied to the BGE reservoir during theclearing step can be between 1-5 psi.

The injecting step can be carried out by applying the defined pressuresfor between 1 and 30 seconds.

The method can include attaching a first pressure supply tube incommunication with a pressurized gas supply and a first valve to the BGEreservoir. The tube can include a voltage input (e.g., electrode) to theBGE reservoir. The method can include attaching a second pressure supplytube in communication with a pressurized gas supply and a second valveto the sample reservoir. The method can include electronically openingand closing the first and second valves to carry out the injecting andelectrophoretic separation.

The BGE reservoir can be in fluid communication with a BGE channel thatmerges into or connects to an end of the separation channel and thesample reservoir channel can be downstream of the BGE channel and canextend laterally from the sample reservoir to connect to the separationchannel (directly or indirectly) across from a laterally extendingsample waste channel that connects to a sample waste reservoir.

The microfluidic device can include a sample waste channel that connectsto a sample waste reservoir. The sample channel and sample waste channelcan define an orthogonal flow path across the separation channeldownstream of the BGE reservoir.

The method can include detecting peak signals of analytes and/or bandsof the sample using a mass spectrometer and generating electropherogramsof the sample.

The electrophoretic separation can be completely free of injection biasso that peak areas in the electropherograms are consistent for latereluting analytes in the delivered sample.

The delivered sample can include an electrolyte that has greaterelectrophoretic mobility than analyte ions in the sample for transientisotachophoresis.

The sample can include one or more of amino acids, polar metabolites,charged molecules, molecules with electrophoretic mobility, peptides,proteins, and molecules extracted from one or more of biofluids, blood,serum, urine, dried blood, cell growth media, lysed cells, environmentalsamples, beverages and food.

Yet other embodiments are directed to microfluidic analysis systems. Thesystems include a microfluidic device comprising at least one separationchannel in fluid communication with a background electrolyte (BGE)reservoir, and a sample reservoir having a sample channel that mergesinto the separation channel and a sample waste channel that merges intothe separation channel. The systems also include a first pressure supplytube in communication with a pressurized gas supply and a first valve,the tube having a voltage input attached to the BGE reservoir. Thesystems also include a second pressure supply tube in communication witha pressurized gas supply and a second valve attached to the samplereservoir. The systems also include a controller in communication with avoltage source (typically for a high voltage input), and the first andsecond valves (and optionally at least one pressurized gas supply forthe first/second supply tubes) configured to direct the first and secondvalves to open and close to carry out a respective sample injection intothe at least one separation channel, then the electrophoreticseparation. Sample injection can be carried out using only pressureapplied to the BGE reservoir and sample reservoir from the first andsecond supply tubes without any electrokinetic voltage.

The controller can be configured to have a defined timing sequence forapplying pressures between 0.1 and 30 psi to a headspace of the BGEreservoir via the first supply tube and to a headspace of the samplereservoir via the second supply tube for defined durations between 1 and30 seconds to inject a respective sample into the at least oneseparation channel.

The controller can be configured to independently apply a definedpressure to the sample reservoir and a defined pressure to the BGEreservoir. The microfluidic device can include at least one EO pump incommunication with the separation channel and/or at least one emitterfor causing the separated sample to electrospray out of the at least oneemitter toward a collection device for subsequent analysis and/or towardan entrance of a mass spectrometer.

The controller can be configured to concurrently supply pressure that isbetween 0.1 psi and 30 psi to the BGE reservoir and the samplereservoir, then reduce or remove the pressure applied to the samplereservoir while applying pressure to the BGE reservoir so that pressureapplied to the BGE reservoir is greater than any pressure then appliedto the sample reservoir to clear a trailing end of the sample from thesample channel and flow fluid from the BGE reservoir to thereby delivera plug of the sample in the separation channel in response. Thecontroller can be configured to then further reduce or removes pressureapplied to the BGE reservoir while applying a voltage to the BGEreservoir and a downstream location of the separation channel for theelectrophoretic separation, all without applying any voltage to thesample reservoir.

The first and second valves can be three-way valves that can ventpressurized gas in respective first and second supply lines in responseto a control signal from the controller.

Yet other embodiments are directed to mass spectrometer analyzersystems. The systems include a mass spectrometer with an entrance and amicrofluidic device onboard or in communication with the massspectrometer. The microfluidic device includes at least one separationchannel in fluid communication with a background electrolyte (BGE)reservoir, a sample reservoir having a sample channel that merges intothe separation channel and a sample waste channel that merges into theseparation channel. The systems further include a first pressure supplytube attached to the BGE reservoir and in communication with apressurized gas supply and a first valve. The systems also include avoltage input attached to the BGE reservoir and a second pressure supplytube in communication with a pressurized gas supply and a second valveattached to the sample reservoir. The systems also include at least onepower source in communication with the BGE reservoir for providing thevoltage input and at least one pressure source in fluid communicationwith the first and second pressure supply tubes. The systems alsoinclude at least one controller configured to control the at least onepower source for application of an electric field to the microfluidicdevice and to control pressures supplied to respective headspaces of thesample reservoir and BGE reservoir. Loading of samples into theseparation channel can be performed using pressure without any voltageapplied to the BGE reservoir and sample reservoir of the microfluidicdevice.

The first and second valves can be three-way valves that cancontrollably vent respective headspace pressure.

It is noted that aspects of the invention described with respect to oneembodiment, may be incorporated in a different embodiment although notspecifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/orfeatures of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/orcombination. Applicant reserves the right to change any originally filedclaim and/or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to beable to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/orincorporate any feature of any other claim or claims although notoriginally claimed in that manner. These and other objects and/oraspects of the present invention are explained in detail in thespecification set forth below. Further features, advantages and detailsof the present invention will be appreciated by those of ordinary skillin the art from a reading of the figures and the detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments that follow, such description being merelyillustrative of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C are schematic illustrations of a sequence of pressure eventsof a microfluidic device used to inject sample into a separation channelaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic illustrations of the same microfluidic deviceshown in FIGS. 1A-1C, but illustrating a prior art electrokineticinjection.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary microfluidic devicethat can be used with pressure-driven injection according to someembodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4E are schematic illustrations of microfluidic devices that canbe configured for pressure-driven injection according to embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an example of a gas-tightconnection with a pressurized supply line for the background electrolyte(BGE) reservoir according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of another example of a gas-tightconnection with a pressurized supply line for the background electrolyte(BGE) reservoir according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a schematic illustration of a microfluidic system accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of amicrofluidic system according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a timing chart for the pressures applied to thesample and BGE reservoirs for injecting a sample in to a separationchannel according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a schematic illustration of a portable MS device with anonboard microfluidic system that has pressure-driven injection accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a schematic illustration of an external MS in communicationwith a microfluidic device according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of exemplary operations that can be used tocarry out embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a data processing system according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are electropherograms for the microfluidic CE-ESI-MS(Capillary Electrophoresis-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry)analysis of the amino acid mixture prepared in BGE with no salt added.FIG. 12A (the top electropherogram) resulted from an electrokineticallygated injection. FIG. 12B (the bottom electropherogram) resulted fromthe new pressure driven injection method with a sample loading time of 3seconds at 2 psi.

FIG. 13 is a graph of peak area ratio versus CE (capillaryelectrophoresis) migration time from the gated injection relative topeak areas from the new pressure-driven injection.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are electropherograms for the microfluidic CE-ESI-MSanalysis of the amino acid mixture prepared in BGE with 100 mM sodiumchloride added. FIG. 14A (the top electropherogram) resulted from anelectrokinetically gated injection. FIG. 14B (the bottomelectropherogram) resulted from the new pressure driven injection methodwith a sample loading time of 3 seconds at 2 psi.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are electropherograms of base peak index over time fordifferent injection times (3 seconds, 5 seconds and 10 seconds). FIG.15A (on the left) shows the effect of increased sample loading when theleading electrolyte concentration is too low to support tITP. Thissample contained no added salt to the BGE. The electropherograms in FIG.15B (on the right) show how tITP leads to sharp peaks of increasingconcentration when larger amounts of a sample containing a sufficientconcentration of leading electrolyte are loaded. This sample contained100 mM sodium chloride.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are electropherograms for tITP-CE-ESI-MS separationsof amino acids with two different leading electrolytes added to thesample. FIG. 16A shows a sample injected (for the top electropherogram)contained 100 mM sodium chloride. The sample injected for FIG. 16B (thebottom electropherogram) contained 100 mM ammonium acetate. Both sampleswere injected for 10 seconds at 2 psi.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying figures, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elementsthroughout. In the figures, certain layers, components or features maybe exaggerated for clarity, and broken lines illustrate optionalfeatures or operations unless specified otherwise. In addition, thesequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presentedin the figures and/or claims unless specifically indicated otherwise. Inthe drawings, the thickness of lines, layers, features, componentsand/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity and broken linesillustrate optional features or operations, unless specified otherwise.The abbreviations “FIG. and “Fig.”) for the word “Figure” can be usedinterchangeably in the text and figures.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms, “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,”“comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, regions, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein,the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more ofthe associated listed items. As used herein, phrases such as “between Xand Y” and “between about X and Y” should be interpreted to include Xand Y. As used herein, phrases such as “between about X and Y” mean“between about X and about Y.” As used herein, phrases such as “fromabout X to Y” mean “from about X to about Y.”

It will be understood that when a feature, such as a layer, region orsubstrate, is referred to as being “on” another feature or element, itcan be directly on the other feature or element or intervening featuresand/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element isreferred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there areno intervening elements present. It will also be understood that, when afeature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or“coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected,attached or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being“directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” toanother element, there are no intervening elements present. Althoughdescribed or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features sodescribed or shown can apply to other embodiments.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the present applicationand relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions orconstructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”,“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements orfeatures. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both anorientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms“upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are usedherein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicatedotherwise.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/orsections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section fromanother region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component,region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a secondelement, component, region, layer or section without departing from theteachings of the present invention.

The term “about” means that the stated number can vary from that valueby +/−20%.

The term “analyte” refers to a molecule or substance undergoinganalysis, typically, at least for mass spectrometry analysis, having anion or ions of interest in a mass-to-charge (m/z) range of interest. Theanalyte can comprise biomolecules such as polymers, peptides, proteinsand the like. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suitable foranalyzing intact monoclonal antibodies. Embodiments of the invention areparticularly suitable for analyzing metabolites.

The term “microchip” refers to a substantially planar, thin, and, insome embodiments, rigid device. The term “thin” refers to a thicknessdimension that is less than about 10 μm, typically about 1 μm or less.The microchip typically has a width and length that is less than about 6inches and a thickness that is less than about 5 μm, typically betweenabout 2000 μm to about 250 μm.

The terms “integrated” and “integral” and derivatives thereof means thatthe component or process is incorporated into or carried out by afluidic device.

The term “high voltage” refers to voltage in the kV range, typicallybetween about 1-100 kV, more typically between about 1-20 kV. ESIprocesses can employ potentials of a few kVs, typically between about 1kV to about 5 kV, for example. Although other voltages may beappropriate.

The term “microfluidic” refers to fluid flow channels that havesub-millimeter or smaller size width and/or depth (e.g., the termincludes nanometer size channels) and includes channels with width ordepth in a size range of about tens to hundreds of microns.

All of the document references (patents, patent applications andarticles) are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in fullherein.

In typical free zone capillary electrophoresis (CE) experiments, asample plug is injected into a column, and an applied electric fieldcauses sample components to separate according to differences in theirmobilities. The mobility of a molecule is the sum of its electrophoreticmobility and the electroosmotic mobility, and any pressure driven flow,if present, of the separation column. The term “plug” with respect to“sample” refers to a quantity of a sample collected/localized within aspatial region, such as within a spatial region of a carrier fluid. Theplug can be a physical band or segment with defined leading and trailingends so that there is a distinct clearance between successive plugs orbands.

The analyte in a sample can be any analyte of interest including, forexample, various mixtures including synthetic and biologicalmacromolecules, nanoparticles, small molecules, DNA, nucleicacids/polynucleic acids, peptides, proteins and the like. The sample caninclude one or more polar metabolites such as amino acids or chargedmolecules, molecules, peptides, and proteins. The sample may also oralternatively include molecules extracted from biofluids, blood, serum,urine, dried blood, cell growth media, lysed cells, beverages or food;or environmental samples such as water or soil.

In the past, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, electrokinetic (EK) gate methodsusing a sequence of different voltages applied to the microfluidicdevice 10 for sample injection.

Generally stated, embodiments of the present invention use pressure toinject samples of a microfluidic device 10 for microchip capillaryelectrophoresis (CE). The pressure-drive method has advantages overother microfluidic injection methods such as voltage-driven loadingmethods, in that it can use a simple channel geometry, but is capable ofgenerating desired sample plug Sp sizes by simply adjusting theinjection time and/or pressure applied to the reservoirs 20, 30. Thismethod is also typically free of eletrokinetic injection bias and novoltage is required to be applied to the sample reservoir 30.

The pressure-driven methods can be particularly suitable for performingonline sample concentration methods such as transient isotachophoresis(tITP), because sample plugs Sp with significantly different properties(electrical conductivity, pH, or viscosity) compared to the backgroundelectrolyte can be injected. Salt or other electrolyte material in thesample/sample reservoir 30 can be used for tITP. The pressure-drivenoperation can position a well-defined band of sample (sample plug Sp)into the separation channel 25 of the microfluidic device using onlypressure-driven flow and can also be used for online sample focusingmethods that are not possible by other microfluidic injection methods.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate pressure-driven injection while FIGS. 2A and2B illustrate voltage driven/gated methods by way of comparison. FIGS.1C and 2C illustrate respective, subsequent transport/separation in atransport channel 25. FIGS. 1A-1C are shown above FIGS. 2A-2C for easeof discussion and by way of an exemplary embodiment. The noted voltages(and polarity) are also by way of example.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, head pressure can be applied to twodifferent fluid reservoirs 20, 30 on or in communication with themicrofluidic device 10, typically using off-device (e.g., off-chip)on/off valves 120, 130 (FIGS. 7A, 7B). The term “head pressure” refersto the gas pressure in a sealed headspace of the reservoir above theliquid. The head pressure of the BGE reservoir 20 is labeled P2 and thehead pressure of the sample reservoir 30 is labeled P1. A controller 100c (FIGS. 7A, 7B) can be in communication with the valves 120, 130 toindependently control when the pressures P1, P2 are applied at therespective reservoirs 20, 30. Thus, for sample loading no voltage isrequired to be applied to either the BGE reservoir 20 or the samplereservoir 30 (FIGS. 1A, 1B, for example).

The microfluidic channels 25, 31, 32 within the device 10 can, in someembodiments, be configured to form a simple injection cross.

The background electrolyte (BGE) reservoir 20 can reside at a top abovethe separation channel 25. The BGE reservoir 20 can reside directlyadjacent the separation channel or may have a BGE flow channel 21 thatmerges into the separation channel 25 to position the BGE reservoir 20 adistance away from the sample channel 31 and the sample waste channel32. Referring to FIG. 1B, the BGE channel 21 can have a length “L”extending from the BGE reservoir 20 to the sample channel 31 and/or thesample channel 31 and waste channel 32 cross/intersection with theseparation channel 25. The length “L” can be any suitable length such asbetween 1-200 mm long. Also, the length of one or more of the channels21, 31, 32, can be any suitable length such as about 1 mm, about 5 mm,about 10 mm, about 20 mm, about 30 mm, about 40 mm, about 50 mm, about60 mm, about 70 mm, about 80 mm, about 90 mm, or about 100 mm, in someembodiments, but other lengths can be used. Where used, the injectioncross configuration may be such that channels 21, 31 and 32 havesubstantially the same length or different lengths, but typicallylengths that are much less than the length of the separation channel 25.The sample and sample waste channels 31, 32, can be longer or shorterthan the BGE channel 21 and may, for example, be between 1-20 mm long.In some embodiments, the sample and sample waste channels 31, 32 areabout 8 mm in length.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, the microfluidic device10 has cross channels defined by the sample channel 31 and the samplewaste channel 32, which can reside on opposing sides of the separationchannel 25 and may optionally be orthogonal to and extend across tointersect the separation channel 25. The BGE reservoir 20 can be at thetop of the separation channel 25 (directly or via the BGE channel 21).The cross channels 31, 32 may also be offset from each other.

In some embodiments, the sample waste channel 32 may be excluded. Thus,the use of a “tee” intersection of the sample channel 31 (in lieu of thecross channel configuration) to the separation channel 25 may be usedand may be implemented using a relatively precise pressure on the BGEreservoir 20 to hold that fluid stationary for injection/sample loading.

Referring to FIG. 1A, pressure is initially concurrently applied to thesample reservoir 30 (P1) and the BGE reservoir 20 (P2) to drive samplefrom the sample reservoir 30 (shown by the hatched region and thedirectional arrows) into the separation channel 25 from the samplechannel 31, and typically the sample waste channel 32, but not the BGEchannel 21. When a plug of a sample Sp in the separation channel 25reaches a desired length (typically downstream of both the BGE reservoir20 and the sample reservoir 30), as shown in FIG. 1B, pressure isdecreased or released from the sample reservoir 30, but pressure is kepton at the BGE reservoir 20. As shown by the arrows, flow from the BGEchannel 21 clears sample in the sample and sample waste channels,leaving a defined plug of sample Sp (trailing end is separated from anyadjacent sample in the cross channels 31, 32) in the primary fluidtransport (e.g., separation) channel 25. This pressure drive/injectionis carried out without requiring any voltage input to the samplereservoir 30. At this point, as shown in FIG. 1C, the pressure isreleased from the BGE reservoir 20 and voltage is applied between theBGE reservoir 20 and the separation channel 25 at a downstream location,typically an end portion or terminus of the separation channel 25 toperform an electrophoretic separation.

The voltage applied to the BGE reservoir 20 can be a high voltage HV asshown, although lower voltages may be used in some embodiments. Thevoltage V applied downstream can be a lower voltage than the voltageapplied to the BGE reservoir 20. The lower voltage V can be any suitableEK driving voltage and may be between 10%-50% of the BGE reservoirvoltage. Voltage can vary and typically ranges from about +1 kV to +30kV and the lower voltage might range from 0 to +4 kV. But, the voltagesand polarity can vary for different applications. For example, thepolarity of the separation could be reversed so that the high voltageinput shown in FIG. 1C is negative, or closer to zero (0) and theopposing voltage (shown in FIG. 1C as the “low voltage” input) could behigher or even negative depending on the relative length of themicrofluidic channels, the charge of the analytes, and the polarity ofthe ESI process.

The pressures applied to the headspaces of the reservoirs 20, 30 can below pressures, typically between 0.1 psi and 30 psi, more typicallybetween 0.5 and 10 psi, such as about 0.5 psi, about 1 psi, about 1.5psi, about 2 psi, about 2.5 psi, about 3 psi, about 3.5 psi, about 4psi, about 4.5 psi, about 5 psi, about 5.5 psi, about 6 psi, about 6.5psi, about 7 psi, about 8 psi, about 8.5 psi, about 9 psi, about 9.5 psiand about 10 psi.

The pressures can be supplied by respective gas supply lines 70 sealablyattached to respective reservoirs 20, 30, typically conduits or lengthsof tubing from at least one pressurized gas source 90 (FIGS. 7A, 7B, 9A,9B). The pressurized gas for providing the pressure-drive can compriseair, noble gases such as helium or nitrogen or other inert gases. FIG.7A illustrates discrete valves 120,130 for the gas supply lines 70 ₂, 70₁, respectively. Either or both of valves 120, 130 can be three-wayvalves.

In some embodiments, the pressure applied concurrently to the BGEreservoir 20 and the sample reservoir 30 for the injection (FIG. 1A) isbetween 1 and 5 psi for between 1-5 seconds. Then, for the clearing ofthe tail end of the sample (FIG. 1B), the pressure in the BGE reservoir20 can be held the same or reduced by 10-80% and the pressure in thesample reservoir 30 can be reduced more than the reduction in thepressure of the BGE reservoir 20, e.g., typically so that it is lessthan 0.1 psi, e.g., zero or, at ambient or atmospheric pressure or belowambient or atmospheric pressure (e.g., under vacuum).

The clearing pressure on the BGE reservoir 20 can be held for a timethat is less than the injection time where pressure is applied to bothreservoirs 20, 30. The clearing pressure time for the pressure appliedonly to the BGE reservoir 20 can be 2 seconds or less, 1 second or lessor 0.5 seconds, for example.

As noted above, tITP has been previously described as an online samplefocusing method for capillary electrophoresis. This phenomenon workswhen the sample contains a relatively large concentration of anelectrolyte (termed the leading electrolyte) that has higherelectrophoretic mobility than the analyte ions. As is well known, theleading electrolyte is typically added to the sample solution. Theleading electrolyte concentration should be significantly greater (suchas at least 5× or 10× greater) than the electrolyte concentration in thebackground electrolyte to provide a sufficient minimum conductivitydifference between the background electrolyte and the leadingelectrolyte. This is the situation that exists for the pressure-driveninjection of samples with high concentration of sodium chloride or otherdefined electrolyte. For example, for a pH 2.2 background electrolytewith a hydronium concentration of approximately 6 mM, a 15 mM leadingelectrolyte is too low, but concentrations at or above 50 mM aresufficient for tITP to be observed.

To take advantage of the sample focusing effects of tITP one can injecta larger band of this sample relative to other sampleprocessing/analysis methods and may use a suitable sample formulationwith the large concentration of the electrolyte. This newpressure-driven injection method allows increased if not total orcomplete freedom in altering the size of the sample band, simply bychanging the head pressure and/or the duration of the applied pressurefor the sample loading step. The BGE reservoir 20 can include liquidelectrolyte comprising sodium or salt in sufficient amount for tITP.

FIG. 3 illustrates that the microfluidic device 10 can include anelectroosmotic (EO) pump 40 and at least one electrospray ionization(ESI) emitter 50 that can spray a separated sample 50 s for analysis.The electrospray from the at least one emitter 50 can be provided to acollection device for subsequent analysis and/or toward a detector of amass spectrometer 200 (FIG. 9A, 9B).

The separation channel 25 is shown in FIG. 3 as having a serpentineshape but other configurations may be used. For example, the geometry ofthe separation channel 25 can be straight or curved, and thecross-sectional profiles of the channels do not all have to be the same.For further discussion of exemplary microfluidic devices, see, e.g.,U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 14/001,549 and 14/368,971, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

One or both of the reservoirs 20, 30 can be in fluid communication withan external fluid source to provide fluid thereto during analysis and/orone or both of the reservoirs 20, 30 may be pre-loaded prior to activeanalysis.

Still referring again to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, a fluid junction40 j can be used to connect the separation/transfer channel 25 andrespective EO (electroosmotic) pump channel 40 c. The fluid junctionscan be nanojunctions with the associated nanojunction channels havingnanometer-sized depths. These channels also typically havemicrometer-sized widths. The nanojunctions 40 j can have, for example, adepth of about 50 nm and a width of about 50 μm. The depth of thenanochannel may be dictated by the ionic strength of the buffers used inthe experiment/analysis and the corresponding Debye lengths. Nanochanneldepth should be on the order of the Debye length or smaller.

FIGS. 4A-4E are non-limiting examples of microfluidic devices 10 thatcan be operated as described above. FIG. 4A illustrates the microfluidicdevice 10 does not require a waste channel 32 or waste reservoir 35.FIG. 4B illustrates the waste channel 32 offset a longitudinal distancefrom the sample channel 31 across the separation channel 25. FIG. 4Cillustrates the device 10 can have a plurality of sample reservoirs 30,shown by way of example as three, 30 ₁, 30 ₂, 30 ₃, but more or lessthan three may be used. The sample reservoirs 30 can feed a common ordifferent sample channels 31, shown as having different sample channels31 ₁,31 ₂, 31 ₃ all for a single separation channel 25, and at least oneBGE reservoir 20 (shown as a single BGE reservoir 20 and reservoirchannel 21). The sample reservoirs 30 can be controlled to sequentiallyor serially be pressure-driven to inject respective plugs into theseparation channel 25. The devices 10 can also have an EO pump 40.

FIG. 4D illustrates a microfluidic device 10 that can have a pluralityof separation channels 25, shown as two adjacent channels, but more thantwo may be included on a single device 10. The separation channels 25can feed a common or separate emitters 50. Thus, the microfluidic device10 can include more than one separation channel and associated BGEreservoir 20, sample reservoir 30, waste reservoir 35 and cross channels31, 32. One or more of the individual channels 21, 25, 31, 32 might beconfigured to have lateral dimensions of about 1-100 μm, e.g., about 75μM, with lateral spaced apart dimensions of about 1-100 μm, in someparticular embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 4E, one or more reference channels for a referencespray may be included on/in the microfluidic device 10. Where used, thereference material for the reference spray from a respective ESI emitter50 can provide one or more ions for internal calibration. In someembodiments, the reference material provides a single defined ion forinternal calibration. In other embodiments, the reference material caninclude multiple ions over a desired range, typically that are oversubstantially an entire m/z range of interest, to improve the massaccuracy.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a BGE reservoir 20 having agas-tight fitting holding a pressure supply line 70 and a high voltageline 75 with a high voltage input 75 i (shown as a platinum wire) thatextends inside the sealed reservoir 20 so as to be able to make contactwith the fluid, e.g., liquid, in the reservoir 20. The term “gas-tight”means that the seal on the reservoir 20, 30 does not unduly leak whenoperated so as to be able to provide the desired pressure to theheadspace 20 h, 30 h for pressure-driven injection.

The pressure supply line 70 can be provided with tubing with an openpressurized gas path extending into the sealed headspace 20 h. For anexample of an 8 mm inner diameter reservoir wall 20 w, the pressuresupply line can be tubing less than this size, e.g., ¼ inch to about1/16 inch outer diameter. However, larger size conduits can be used whenstepped down in size for the supply into the reservoir head space underthe sealed connection. The sealed (e.g., gas-tight) connection of arespective pressurized gas supply line 70 to either reservoir 20, 30 canbe provided via epoxy, O-ring, metal or elastomeric gaskets, greasefittings, and/or other suitable configurations. FIG. 6 illustrates thatthe pressured gas supply line 70 can be held adjacent the high voltagecable 75 in a common sleeve 80. It is further noted that the highvoltage cable 75 can be held routed into the headspace while held insidethe gas supply tubing.

FIG. 6 also illustrates that the top of the reservoir 20 t can be sealedwith a cap 20 c and a side port 20 p can be used to attach thepressurized gas supply line 70 to the reservoir 20. The same arrangementcan be used for the sample reservoir 30 (not shown). In someembodiments, the gas supply line 70 can be attached over the outer wallof the wall 20 w of the reservoir 20 instead of extending inside thereservoir 20 for gas-tight or sealed connection. Other connectionconfigurations may be used.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example of a microfluidic system 100 whichincludes a controller 100 c used to control operation of the pressuresupply to the reservoirs 20, 30 to carry out the pressure-driveninjection. The system 100 can include first and second pressurized gassupply lines or conduits 70, shown as 70 ₁, 70 ₂, each in fluidcommunication with at least one valve 120, 130. The system 100 caninclude a single three-way valve (FIG. 7B) that closes and opens eachsupply line. However, in preferred embodiments, separate valves 120, 130are used for each supply line 70 ₁, 70 ₂. One or both of the valves 120,130 can be a three-way valve (e.g., three way operation, open/close tosource, open/close to head space and open/close to atmosphere) for arespective supply line 70 which can allow for the rapid venting ofpressurized gas from a respective supply line. Thus, in operation, oneor both of the valves 120, 130 can be operated to vent the head pressurein the reservoir 20, 30, to atmosphere, which may help precisely controlthe injection process. One or both of the gas supply lines 70 and/orreservoirs 20, 30 can also or alternatively include vents (121, 131)that can be electronically opened and closed, for rapid venting toatmosphere to decrease pressure in a respective headspace 20 h, 30 h.The term “rapid” with respect to the venting or pressure reduction(e.g., venting to atmosphere) in a respective pressure supply line 70refers to a drop in pressure of the corresponding headspace 20 h, 30 hof a respective reservoir 20, 30 to at least atmospheric pressure within0.1-3 seconds, more typically within about 2 seconds or within about 1second. The rapid venting can be based on a control signal from thecontroller 100 c that (a) directs the valve 120 or 130 to open toatmosphere (where a three-way valve is used) or (b) opens a ventseparate from the valve 120, 130 and closes the valve 120, 130. Therapid pressure reduction (e.g., venting) can be measured by a pressuresensor in the supply line or reservoir to indicate the rapid drop inhead pressure from an operative pressure to atmospheric pressure withina 0.1-2 second time period. In some embodiments, the rapid venting canbe carried out in between about 0.1 seconds and 1.5 seconds, such asabout 0.1 seconds, about 0.2 seconds, about 0.3 seconds, about 0.4seconds, about 0.5 seconds, about 0.6 seconds, about 0.7 seconds, about0.8 seconds, about 0.9 seconds, about 1 second, about 1.1 seconds, about1.2 seconds, about 1.25 seconds, about 1.5 seconds, about 2 seconds, andabout 2.5 seconds.

The first and second pressurized gas supply lines 70 ₁, 70 ₂ can each bein communication with a common pressurized gas source 90 or each mayhave its own pressurized gas source. The system 100 can include a powersupply 95 for the high voltage input to the microfluidic device 10. Thepower supply 95 can be attached to the cable 75.

The controller 100 c can direct the timing sequence of thedifferentially applied pressure to the microfluidic device. Thecontroller 100 c can be in communication with the valves 120, 130, theat least one pressure source 90 and the power supply 95. The term“controller” is used broadly to include a single or multiple processorsor application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) held on a singledevice, e.g., the microfluidic device 10, and/or computer, laptop,notebook, smartphone and the like, or distributed in different devicesusing wires or wireless connections including local area networks orwide area networks, e.g., the internet, including any server system.

The controller 100 c can direct the first and second valves 120, 130 toopen and close to carry out successive sample injection andelectrophoretic separation using a defined sequence, an example of whichis shown in the timing chart of FIG. 8. It is noted that theelectrophoretic separation voltage can be applied concurrently with orjust after pressure P2 is removed or decreased from the BGE reservoir20. As shown, sample injection is carried out using only pressure P1applied to the BGE reservoir and only pressure P2 applied to the samplereservoir from the first and second supply lines 70 (e.g., tubes orconduits) without any electrokinetic (EK) voltage. Voltage can beapplied to the BGE reservoir 20 after the injection (FIG. 1C).

The controller 100 c can be configured to operate the microfluidicdevice 10 using a defined timing sequence for applying defined pressures(headspace pressures) between 0.1 and 30 psi to a headspace 20 h of theBGE reservoir 20 via the supply tube 70 ₂ and to a headspace 30 h of thesample reservoir 30 via the supply tube 70 ₁ for defined durations,typically between 1 and 10 seconds, to inject a sample into theseparation channel 25. The timing chart shown in FIG. 8 is by way ofexample and the noted “zero” pressures of P1 (for the sample reservoir30) and P2 (for the BGE reservoir 20) may be atmospheric or ambientpressures or may alternatively be vacuum pressures. The applied voltageV from the power supply 95 to the input 75 i in the BGE reservoir 20(top line of the timing chart in FIG. 8) can have a shorter or longerduration than the concurrent injection pressures P1, P2 (FIG. 1A) or thesubsequent “clearing” pressure P2 (FIG. 1B). The P2 pressure can remainconstant or change, typically decreasing, from the concurrent pressurefor injection to the “clearing” pressure when P1 is “OFF” orsubstantially decreased (FIG. 1B).

The microfluidic device 10 can be a microfluidic chip that is formed ofhard or substantially rigid materials that include, but are not limitedto, substrates comprising one or combinations of: glass, quartz,silicon, ceramic, silicon nitride, polycarbonate, andpolymethylmethacrylate. In particular embodiments, the device 10 caninclude a glass substrate such as a borosilicate. In other embodiments,a rigid polymer material may be used to form the microfluidic device.The device 10 can also include one or more layers of a soft or flexiblesubstrate. Soft substrate materials, where used, can have a low Young'sModulus value. For example, elastomers and harder plastics and/orpolymers can have a range between about 0.1-3000 MPa. Examples of softmaterials include, but are not limited to, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS),polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and polyurethane. See, e.g., co-pendingPCT/US2012/027662 filed Mar. 5, 2012 and PCT/US2011/052127 filed Sep.19, 2011 for a description of examples of microfabricated fluidicdevices. See, also, Mellors, J. S.; Gorbounov, V.; Ramsey, R. S.;Ramsey, J. M., Fully integrated glass microfluidic device for performinghigh-efficiency capillary electrophoresis and electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry. Anal Chem 2008, 80 (18), 6881-6887. For additionalinformation that may be useful for some designs, see also, Xue Q, ForetF, Dunayevskiy Y M, Zavracky P M, McGruer N E & Karger B L (1997),Multichannel Microchip Electrospray Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 69,426-430, Ramsey R S & Ramsey J M (1997), Generating Electrospray fromMicrochip Devices Using Electroosmotic Pumping. Anal Chem 69, 1174-1178,Chambers A G, Mellors J S, Henley W H & Ramsey J M (2011), MonolithicIntegration of Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography—CapillaryElectrophoresis and Electrospray Ionization on a Microfluidic Device.Analytical Chemistry 83, 842-849. The contents of these documents arehereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.

EO pumps can be integrated on a microfluidic device 10 for electrosprayionization via implementations other than the examples shown in FIG. 3or 4A-4E. The basic requirement is to have two channels intersect at ajunction, which may be a T-like junction (not restricted to a rightangle intersection). A voltage is applied to two of the three resultingchannel termini generating an axial electric field through theassociated channel segments. To realize hydraulic transport through thethird channel segment, the electroosmotic mobility in the two channelsegments that contain the axial electric field is generally different inmagnitude and/or sign. The difference in electroosmotic mobility can beachieved by chemically modifying one, or both, of the associated channelsegments so as to produce different surface charge densities and hencedifferent electroosmotic mobilities. Electroosmotic mobility can also bemodified by coating a channel wall with electrically neutral polymerfilms, thereby increasing the effective fluid viscosity within theelectrical double layer at the wall. Another way to modifyelectroosmotic mobility is reduce one of the channel lateral dimensionsto distances similar in magnitude to the Debye length of the solutionbeing electroosmotically pumped. The described methods for modifyingelectroosmotic mobility may also be used in combination where desired.Methods for electroosmotic pumping are further described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,110,343, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

While it is convenient to monolithically integrate EO pump functionalelements on electrospray microfluidic devices, it is possible tohydraulically deliver sample materials to the emitter. See, e.g.,Chambers A G, Mellors J S, Henley W H & Ramsey J M (2011) MonolithicIntegration of Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography—CapillaryElectrophoresis and Electrospray Ionization on a Microfluidic Device.Analytical Chemistry 83, 842-849. When utilizing hydraulic transport tosupply analyte to the emitter, electrical connection for producing theelectrospray, voltage can be achieved using a side channel similar tothe EO pumping channel or by contacting the fluid using an electrode ina reservoir external to the microfluidic device, or in the case of usingmetal tubing between the device 10 and the pump, connection can be madeto the tubing.

FIGS. 9A and 9B schematically illustrate embodiments of the invention.FIG. 9A illustrates a portable mass spectrometer 200 with a housing 201holding at least one of the microfluidic devices 10 with an onboardcontroller 100 c, a power supply for the voltage 95, a pressurized gassupply 90, a detector 205, an analyzer 210 and an optional display 215for providing output data.

FIG. 9B illustrates that the microfluidic device 10 can be incommunication with a mass spectrometer 200. The controller 100 c can beseparate or partially or totally onboard the mass spectrometer 200.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of exemplary operations that can be used tocarry out a sample analysis. A microfluidic device is provided with atleast one separation channel in fluid communication with a backgroundelectrolyte (BGE) reservoir and a sample reservoir and having a samplechannel that merges into the separation channel (block 300). A fluidsample is injected from the sample reservoir into the separation channeldownstream of the BGE reservoir by concurrently applying a definedpressure to the BGE reservoir and a defined pressure to the samplereservoir (block 310). Then, a trailing end of the sample is clearedfrom the sample channel and fluid is flowed from the BGE reservoir todeliver a plug of the sample in the separation channel in response toreducing or removing the pressure applied to the sample reservoir whileapplying pressure to the BGE reservoir so that pressure applied to theBGE reservoir is greater than pressure then applied to the samplereservoir (block 320). Then, the delivered sample is electrophoreticallyseparated in the separation channel by applying voltage to the BGEreservoir and a downstream location of the separation channel (block330). The pressure in the BGE reservoir can be held constant, furtherreduced or removed while the voltage is applied.

The injecting, clearing and electrophoretic separation can be carriedout without applying a voltage to the sample reservoir (block 340).

A duration of the pressure can be electronically adjusted or thepressure applied to the sample or BGE reservoir 20, 30 can be increasedor decreased for the injecting and/or clearing to adjust a size of theplug of the sample delivered to the separation channel (block 345).

It is noted that embodiments of the present invention may combinesoftware, firmware and/or hardware aspects, all generally referred toherein as a “circuit” or “module.” Furthermore, the present inventionmay take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usablestorage medium having computer-usable program code embodied in themedium. Any suitable computer readable medium may be utilized includinghard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, a transmission media suchas those supporting the Internet or an intranet, or magnetic storagedevices. Some circuits, modules or routines may be written in assemblylanguage or even micro-code to enhance performance and/or memory usage.It will be further appreciated that the functionality of any or all ofthe program modules may also be implemented using discrete hardwarecomponents, one or more application specific integrated circuits(ASICs), or a programmed digital signal processor or microcontroller.Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to a particularprogramming language.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentinvention may be written in an object oriented programming language suchas Java®, Smalltalk or C++. However, the computer program code forcarrying out operations of the present invention may also be written inconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on anothercomputer, local and/or remote or entirely on the other local or remotecomputer. In the latter scenario, the other local or remote computer maybe connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN)or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider).

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein, in part, withreference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatus (systems) and computer program products according toembodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block ofthe flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can beimplemented by computer program instructions. These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing some or all of thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowcharts and block diagrams of certain of the figures hereinillustrate exemplary architecture, functionality, and operation ofpossible implementations of embodiments of the present invention. Inthis regard, each block in the flow charts or block diagrams representsa module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order or two or more blocks may becombined, or a block divided and performed separately, depending uponthe functionality involved.

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a circuit or data processingsystem 290. The system 290 can be used with microfluidic devices 10and/or mass spectrometers 200. The circuits and/or data processingsystems 290 may be incorporated in a digital signal processor in anysuitable device or devices. As shown in FIG. 11, the processor 410 cancommunicate with a mass spectrometer 200 and/or microfluidic device 10and with memory 414 via an address/data bus 448. The processor 410 canreside in a control circuit or controller that is separate from thespectrometer 200 or that is integrated wholly or partially therein. Theprocessor 410 can be any commercially available or custommicroprocessor. The memory 414 is representative of the overallhierarchy of memory devices containing the software and data used toimplement the functionality of the data processing system. The memory414 can include, but is not limited to, the following types of devices:cache, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, SRAM, and DRAM.

FIG. 11 illustrates that the memory 414 may include several categoriesof software and data used in the data processing system: the operatingsystem 452; the application programs 454; the input/output (I/O) devicedrivers 458; and data 455. The data 455 can include sample type, plugsize adjustments for pressures, calibration data, time synchronizationdata (e.g., pressures/duration for loading/injection), and/or otherdetected or internal mass spectrometer data.

As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the operatingsystems 452 may be any operating system suitable for use with a dataprocessing system, such as OS/2, AIX, DOS, OS/390 or System390 fromInternational Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., Windows CE,Windows NT, Windows95, Windows98, Windows2000, WindowsXP or otherWindows versions from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash., Unix orLinux or FreeBSD, Palm OS from Palm, Inc., Mac OS from Apple Computer,LabView, or proprietary operating systems. The I/O device drivers 458typically include software routines accessed through the operatingsystem 452 by the application programs 454 to communicate with devicessuch as I/O data port(s), data storage 455 and certain memory 414components. The application programs 454 are illustrative of theprograms that implement the various features of the data (image)processing system and can include at least one application, whichsupports operations according to embodiments of the present invention.Finally, the data 455 represents the static and dynamic data used by theapplication programs 454, the operating system 452, the I/O devicedrivers 458, and other software programs that may reside in the memory414.

While the present invention is illustrated, for example, with referenceto the Sequential Pressure Drive Injection Control Module 450 and thePlug Size (pressure/duration) Adjustment Module 451 being applicationprograms in FIG. 11, as will be appreciated by those of skill in theart, other configurations may also be utilized while still benefitingfrom the teachings of the present invention. The Module 451 can allowfor a user to select a desired injection time (Pressure ON time, OFFtime, pressure for a respective injection and/or clearing and the like,for each reservoir). The Module 450 and/or 451 may also be incorporatedinto the operating system 452, the I/O device drivers 458 or other suchlogical division of the data processing system. Thus, the presentinvention should not be construed as limited to the configuration ofFIG. 11, which is intended to encompass any configuration capable ofcarrying out the operations described herein. Further, Module 450 and/or451 can communicate with or be incorporated totally or partially inother components, such as a mass spectrometer 200, power supply 95, aninterface/gateway or a computer such as at a workstation that may belocal or remote from the microfluidic device/spectrometer.

The I/O data port can be used to transfer information between the dataprocessing system, the workstation, the spectrometer, the microfluidicdevice, the interface/gateway and another computer system or a network(e.g., the Internet) or to other devices or circuits controlled by theprocessor. These components may be conventional components such as thoseused in many conventional data processing systems, which may beconfigured in accordance with the present invention to operate asdescribed herein.

The present invention is explained in greater detail in the followingnon-limiting Examples.

Examples

Microchip CE with integrated ESI for MS detection was used for theanalysis of amino acids. The new pressure-driven injection method wascompared to the commonly used electrokinetic (EK) gate method (using themethodology described in FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2C) using the microfluidicdevice shown in FIG. 3. This type of microchip CE-ESI device has beendescribed previously and is commonly used in lab settings. For all ofthe data presented here, the sample contained a 10 μM mixture of the 20essential amino acids. The salt content of the samples was varied toillustrate the superior salt tolerance of the new injection method andalso to illustrate the phenomenon of transient isotachophoresis (tITP)that is allowed by the new pressure-driven injection method. Allseparations were performed with a separation field strength ofapproximately 1000 V/cm with a background electrolyte (BGE) of 50%methanol, 2% formic acid (pH 2.2). Computer control of voltages appliedto the microfluidic device was accomplished using previously describedmethods. For the new pressure-driven injection method, a pressure of 2psi was applied to the head space of the sample and BGE reservoirs. Thepressure was controlled using one 3-way electronic valve (Clippard) foreach of these two reservoirs. The valves were controlled using the samecomputer control system used to supply high voltage to the microfluidicdevice. Gas tight connections were made to the microfluidic reservoirsusing PTFE tubing with an internal diameter equal to the diameter of theglass cylinders used as fluid reservoirs (8 mm). For the samplereservoir connection, the PTFE tubing was connected directly to thepressure supply line using a simple reducing union. The fitting used forthe BGE reservoir is illustrated in FIG. 5. To allow the application ofboth high voltage and pressure, this fitting includes the high voltageelectrode and a segment of 1/16 inch tubing which is coupled to apressure supply line. For all of the data presented here, a Synapt G2quadrupole-ion mobility-time of flight mass spectrometer (Waters Corp.)was used for detection and identification of the ions generated by themicrochip CE-ESI device.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show electropherograms for the separation of samplewith low salt content using both injection methods. Theelectropherograms are for the microfluidic CE-ESI-MS analysis of anamino acid mixture prepared in BGE with no salt added. For thepressure-driven injection (FIG. 12A), 2 psi was applied to both thesample and BGE reservoirs for 3 seconds, then just the BGE reservoir for1 second. For the EK gated injection (FIG. 12A), the gate was opened for0.2 seconds using the voltages shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. The effects ofinjection bias can be seen in FIG. 12A as relatively smaller peaks forthe later eluting amino acids in the EK gated electropherogram. For theelectrokinetic injection, injection bias causes the later elutingcompounds to be significantly smaller. The new pressure driven injectionmethod has no bias, so the peak areas are more consistent for all of theanalytes. Differences in peak area for the pressure driven injection arecaused purely by differences in the MS detector response for thesedifferent analytes.

To illustrate this trend more clearly, the peak areas from the EK gatedinjection relative to the peak areas of the pressure driven injectionare plotted in FIG. 13. The most mobile amino acid (lysine, K) had thesame peak area using both injection methods. There is, however, a cleartrend of decreasing relative peak area with longer migration times. Therelative decrease in peak area as a function of migration timeillustrates how analytes with slower electrophoretic mobility are biasedagainst using the electrokinetically gated injection.

Injection method comparison for a sample with high salt content showedthat the EK injection method had a more severe type of injection biasthat can occur when the ionic strength of the sample is significantlygreater than the ionic strength of the BGE. In this case, current flowfrom the sample reservoir to the separation channel is limited by theionic conductivity of the BGE. An excess of ions from salt in the samplewill prevent analyte ions from migrating into the separation channel.The end result is a severely biased injection when the ionic strength ofthe sample is significantly higher than the ionic strength of the BGE.This phenomenon places a major limitation on the utility of EK gated CEseparations. The new pressure-driven injection method forces sample intothe separation channel without regard for the electrical conductivity ofthe BGE, so analyte injection is not hampered by the salt content of thesample.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show electropherograms obtained from the analysis of asample containing 100 mM sodium chloride using both injection methods.Sodium ions generate clusters of sodium formate during the electrosprayprocess which can be detected by the mass spectrometer. For the EKinjection (FIG. 14A), only the band of sodium and very small amounts ofthe highest mobility amino acids (K, R, and H) are detected. For the newpressure driven injection method (FIG. 14B), an even larger band ofsodium is detected, but in this case all of the amino acids are alsodetected with similar intensity to the injection of the non-salty sampleshown in FIG. 12B.

The use of salt in the sample for transient isotachophoresis wasanalyzed. The ability to position a well-defined band of sample into theseparation channel of the microfluidic device using pressure-driven flownow allows the use of online sample focusing methods that are notpossible by other microfluidic injection methods. Transientisotachophoresis (tITP) has been previously described as an onlinesample focusing method for capillary electrophoresis. This phenomenonworks when the sample contains a relatively large concentration of anelectrolyte (termed the leading electrolyte) that has higherelectrophoretic mobility than the analyte ions. This is exactly thesituation that exists for the pressure-driven injection of samples withhigh concentration of sodium chloride described above. To take advantageof the sample focusing effects of tITP a larger band of this sample needonly be injected. This new injection method allows complete freedom inaltering the size of the sample band, simply by changing the headpressure or the duration of the sample loading step. For the resultspresented in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the duration of the sample loading stepwas altered, while holding constant all other variables.

FIGS. 15A and 15B show how tITP yields sharp bands of increasingconcentration when larger amounts of samples containing a sufficientconcentration of leading electrolyte are injected. The electropherogramson the left (FIG. 15A) show how the analyte bands simply become widerfor longer injection times without tITP. This sample contained no addedsalt to the BGE. The electropherograms on the right (FIG. 15B) show howthe analyte bands focus into narrow bands of increasing concentrationwhen tITP is occurring. The only difference between the two sets of runswas the addition of 100 mM sodium chloride to the sample used for theruns shown on the right (FIG. 15B). Sodium can also be seen in the dataon the right as a wide band that elutes before the amino acids. Thisclearly shows how the leading electrolyte band does not focus duringtITP while the less mobile analyte ions focus into sharp peaks. Theeffect of salt content on microchip tITP-CE-ESI-MS was based on amixture of 20 amino acids (10 uM). The electropherograms on the rightshow how tITP leads to sharp peaks of increasing concentration whenlarger amounts of a sample containing a sufficient concentration ofleading electrolyte are loaded. This sample contained 100 mM sodiumchloride. These injections were performed with a head pressure of 2 psiapplied to the sample reservoir for the times labeled. All otherconditions were identical for all of the electropherograms displayedhere.

While 100 mM sodium chloride yields satisfactory results fortITP-CE-ESI-MS, other electrolytes can be used. Better separationperformance can be achieved by using ammonium acetate instead of sodiumchloride. FIGS. 16A and 16B show electropherograms from twotITP-CE-ESI-MS separations. Both samples were 10 μM amino acid mixturesinjected for 10 seconds at 2 psi. The sample used for the topelectropherogram (FIG. 16A) contained 100 mM sodium chloride, while thebottom (FIG. 16B) used 100 mM ammonium acetate. The sample injected withsodium chloride yielded abnormal peak shapes visible at the bottoms ofthe amino acid peaks, the peaks from the sample containing ammoniumacetate had a much better shape. This improvement in peak shape yieldedbetter resolution between neighboring peaks. Another clear difference isthat ammonium ions yield a volatile salt during the ESI process, so theyare not detected by ESI-MS like sodium. Ammonium is therefore lesslikely to cause fouling of the MS inlet electrodes. Ammonium ions alsohave a higher electrophoretic mobility than sodium ions. This allows thetITP process to occur more quickly yielding less migration time delay.This effect can be seen by comparing the migration time of the earliesteluting amino acid (lysine) in the two runs shown in FIGS. 15A/15B. Themigration time was 3 seconds earlier for this example. The effect wouldbe more significant for larger sample injection volumes.

The new pressure-driven injection method described allows (completely)unbiased injections of samples for microfluidic CE separations. Thesemethods can be used to inject a cleanly-defined band of sampleregardless of the sample composition. The size of the sample band can beprecisely controlled simply by altering the pressure and/or duration ofthe injection. These traits make this injection method ideal forperforming on-chip sample focusing methods such as transientisotachophoresis. A notable difference between this method andpreviously described methods is the application of pressure to twodifferent solvent reservoirs with the ability to control those pressuresindependently using (typically off-chip) valves. This allows a preciselyloaded sample into the separation channel and then clear extra samplefrom the side arms of the injection cross in only two discretepressure-only driven steps.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to beconstrued as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments ofthis invention have been described, those skilled in the art willreadily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined inthe claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, withequivalents of the claims to be included therein.

That which is claimed:
 1. A method of sample processing, comprising:providing a microfluidic device with at least one separation channel influid communication with a background electrolyte (BGE) reservoir and asample reservoir having a sample channel that merges into the separationchannel; injecting a fluid sample from the sample reservoir into theseparation channel downstream of the BGE reservoir by concurrentlyapplying a defined pressure to the BGE reservoir and a defined pressureto the sample reservoir; then clearing a trailing end of the sample fromthe sample channel and flowing fluid from the BGE reservoir to deliver aplug of the sample in the separation channel in response to reducing orremoving the pressure applied to the sample reservoir while applyingpressure to the BGE reservoir so that pressure applied to the BGEreservoir is greater than pressure then applied to the sample reservoir;and then electrophoretically separating the delivered sample in theseparation channel by-applying a voltage to the BGE reservoir and adownstream location of the separation channel.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the injecting, clearing and electrophoretic separation arecarried out without applying a voltage to the sample reservoir.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the electrophoretic separation is carried outby further reducing or removing pressure applied to the BGE reservoirwhile applying the voltage to the BGE reservoir.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the electrophoretic separation comprises removing pressureapplied to the BGE reservoir while applying the voltage to the BGEreservoir.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising electronicallyadjusting a duration of the pressure applied to at least one of thesample reservoir and the BGE reservoir for the injecting step.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising controlling a duration andmagnitude of the pressure applied to the BGE reservoir to adjust a sizeof the plug of the sample delivered to the separation channel.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the clearing the trailing end of the sampleto deliver the plug of the sample into the separation channel is carriedout by removing the pressure applied to the sample reservoir whileapplying the pressure to the BGE reservoir.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising discharging the electrophoretically separated samplefrom the microfluidic device via at least one emitter on themicrofluidic device toward at least one of a collection device forsubsequent analysis or an entrance of a mass spectrometer.
 9. The methodof claim 8, further comprising using at least one electro-osmotic (EO)pump held on the microfluidic device to drive the discharging.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the pressures applied to the BGE reservoirand the sample reservoir during the injecting step are each between 0.1and 30 psi.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure applied tothe sample reservoir during the injecting step is between 1 and 10 psi,and wherein reducing or removing the pressure applied to the samplereservoir during the clearing step comprises venting pressurized gasfrom the sample reservoir.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein thepressure applied to the BGE reservoir and the pressure applied to thesample reservoir during the injecting step is between 2 and 10 psi,wherein no pressure is applied to the sample reservoir during theclearing step, and wherein the pressure applied to the BGE reservoirduring the clearing step is between 1-5 psi.
 13. The method of claim 1,wherein the injecting step is carried out by applying the definedpressures for between 1 and 30 seconds.
 14. The method of claim 1,further comprising: providing a first pressure supply tube incommunication with a pressurized gas supply and a first valve to the BGEreservoir; providing a second pressure supply tube in communication witha pressurized gas supply and a second valve to the sample reservoir; andelectronically opening and closing the first and second valves in adefined sequence to carry out the injecting.
 15. The method of claim 1,wherein the BGE reservoir is in fluid communication with a BGE channelthat merges into an end of the separation channel and the sample channelis downstream of the BGE channel and extends laterally from the samplereservoir to merge into the separation channel across from a laterallyextending sample waste channel that is connected to a, sample wastereservoir.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic devicecomprises a sample waste channel that is connected to a sample wastereservoir, and wherein the sample channel and sample waste channeldefine an orthogonal flow path across the separation channel downstreamfrom the BGE reservoir.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprisingdetecting analyte peak signals of the sample using a mass spectrometerand generating electropherograms of the sample.
 18. The method of claim1, wherein the electrophoretic separation is completely free ofinjection bias so that peak areas in electropherograms generated duringthe electrophoretic separation are consistent for later eluting analytesin the delivered sample.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein thedelivered sample comprises an electrolyte that has greaterelectrophoretic mobility than analyte ions in the sample for transientisotachophoresis.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the samplecomprises one or more of amino acids, polar metabolites, chargedmolecules, molecules with electrophoretic mobility, peptides, proteins,and molecules extracted from one or more of biofluids, blood, serum,urine, dried blood, cell growth media, lysed cells, environmentalsamples, beverages and food.
 21. A microfluidic analysis system,comprising: a microfluidic device comprising at least one separationchannel in fluid communication with a background electrolyte (BGE)reservoir, a sample reservoir having a sample channel that merges intothe separation channel and a sample waste channel that merges into theseparation channel; a first pressure supply tube in communication with apressurized gas supply and a first valve, the first pressure supply tubecomprising a voltage input attached to the BGE reservoir; a secondpressure supply tube in communication with a pressurized gas supply anda second valve attached to the sample reservoir; and a controller incommunication with a voltage source and with the first and second valvesto direct the first and second valves to open and close to carry out asample injection into the at least one separation channel followed byelectrophoretic separation, wherein sample injection is carried out onlyusing pressure applied to the BGE reservoir and the sample reservoirfrom the first and second supply tubes without any electrokineticvoltage.
 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the controller isconfigured to have a defined timing sequence for applying pressuresbetween 0.1 and 30 psi to a headspace of the BGE reservoir via the firstsupply tube and to a headspace of the sample reservoir via the secondsupply tube for defined durations between 1 and 30 seconds to inject asample into the at least one separation channel.
 23. The system of claim21, wherein the controller is configured to independently apply adefined pressure to the sample reservoir and a defined pressure to theBGE reservoir, and wherein the microfluidic device further comprises atleast one electro-osmotic (EO) pump in communication with at least oneof the separation channel and at least one emitter for causing theinjected sample to discharge out of the at least one emitter toward atleast one of collection device for subsequent analysis or an entrance ofa mass spectrometer.
 24. The system of claim 21, wherein the controlleris configured to control the first and second valves to concurrentlyapply pressures that are between 0.1 psi and 30 psi to the BGE reservoirand to the sample reservoir, then reduce or remove the pressure appliedto the sample reservoir while applying pressure to the BGE reservoir sothat the pressure applied to the BGE reservoir is greater than anypressure then applied to the sample reservoir to clear a trailing end ofthe sample from the sample channel and flow fluid from the BGE reservoirto thereby deliver a plug of the sample into the separation channel, andwherein the controller is configured to then further reduce or removepressure applied to the BGE reservoir while applying a voltage to theBGE reservoir and a downstream location of the separation channel toperform the electrophoretic separation, all without applying any voltageto the sample reservoir.
 25. The system of claim 21, wherein the firstand second valves are three-way valves that can controllably ventpressurized gas into respective first and second supply lines inresponse to a control signal from the controller.
 26. A massspectrometer analyzer system comprising: a mass spectrometer; amicrofluidic device onboard or in communication with the massspectrometer, the microfluidic device comprising at least one separationchannel in fluid communication with a background electrolyte (BGE)reservoir, a sample reservoir having a sample channel that merges intothe separation channel and a sample waste channel that merges into theseparation channel; a first pressure supply tube in communication with afirst valve attached to the BGE reservoir; a voltage input attached tothe BGE reservoir; a second pressure supply tube in communication with asecond valve attached to the sample reservoir; at least one power sourcein communication with the voltage input attached to the BGE reservoir;at least one pressurized gas source in fluid communication with thefirst and second pressure supply tubes; and a controller configured toload a sample into the at least one separation channel by: applyingconcurrent pressures through the first and second pressure supply tubesto the headspaces of the sample reservoir and the BGE reservoir withoutapplying a voltage to either the sample reservoir or the BGE reservoirfor a first time period; and reducing the pressure applied to the samplereservoir so that the pressure applied to the BGE reservoir is greaterthan the pressure applied to the sample reservoir for a second timeperiod, thereby clearing the sample from the sample channel and loadingthe sample and fluid from the BGE reservoir into the at least oneseparation channel.
 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first andsecond valves are three-way valves that can controllably vent respectiveheadspace pressure, and wherein the controller is configured to ventpressurized gas from the respective head spaces of at least one of thesample reservoir and the BGE reservoir within 0.1-3 seconds byactivating at least one of the first and second valves.
 28. The systemof claim 26, further comprising at least one electrospray ionizationemitter and at least one electroosmotic pump in communication with theat least one electrospray ionization emitter.
 29. The system of claim26, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a duration ofpressure applied to at least one of the sample reservoir and the BGEreservoir to adjust a size of a plug delivered into the separationchannel.
 30. The system of claim 26, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the first and second valves to concurrently applya pressure that is between 0.1 psi and 30 psi to the BGE reservoir andthe sample reservoir to load a respective sample.